He reads histories and mythologies and fairy tales, wondering why it seems that only girls are ever swept away from their mundane lives on farms by knights or princes or wolves. It strikes him as unfair to not have the same fanciful opportunity himself. And he is not in the position to do any rescuing of his own. During the hours spent watching the sheep as they wander aimlessly around their fields, he even wishes that someone would come and take him away, but wishes on sheep appear to work better than wishes on stars.
This excerpt captures a deeply poignant yearning for escape and transformation that resonates with the universal desire to break free from the monotony of everyday life. The narrator’s reflection on fairy tales highlights the gendered narratives we grow up with—where girls are the ones carried away by magical forces, while boys are left on the sidelines, unable to partake in the same romanticized adventure. It's a subtle critique of storytelling traditions...